Exclusives

Luke Bryan has revealed that he’s releasing a new album in ‘Born Here, Live Here, Die Here’, which will be released on April 24. The record will be the Georgia born’s artist first since 2017’s ‘What Makes You Country’ and in addition to announcing the album, the singer has also dropped an extensive tour in the US. On said tour – which includes dates at Nashville’s Bridgstone Arena, Madison Square Garden in New York and the Staples Center in Los Angeles – Bryan will have Morgan Wallen, Runaway June and Caylee Hammack supporting him. Speaking about the album and the tour, the 2015 CMA Entertainer of the Year award winner said that he is very grateful to be in the position that he is in and that he is excited to hit the road with the support acts, all of whom he has been keeping a close eye on. “‘Proud to be right here’ is a phrase from my new album’s title track,” Bryan said. “From the moment I first heard it, I loved that this song related so closely to how I grew up and how I still have so many ties to my hometown. It’s a connection I feel is so important in country music. “I am truly so thankful to have the opportunity to make music for my fans and to look out into the crowds each night from stage and be proud of what we’ve created and I’m excited to get on the road with these guest artists, too. “I’ve been watching what Morgan is building with his fans and it has been so fun to watch. I know with him, Caylee and Runaway June on this tour it’s going to be such a high energy night for everyone.” ‘Born Here, Live Here, Die Here’ will be the seventh solo album by Luke Bryan.

Sunny Ozell has offered fans a glimpse into her upcoming album ‘Overnight Lows’ by releasing a single in the shape of All That I Am. You can listen to the song here. In addition to releasing the single, Ozell has also been confirmed to perform at UK AmericanaFest at the Empire Bar in Hackney on January 28, while she will also be at the awards two days later. ‘Overnight Lows’ is Ozell’s first record since 2015’s ‘Take It With Me’ and saw the New York based artist work with a host of talented musicians when recording, including Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant, Alison Kraus), Tyler Chester (George Ezra), Andy Hess (The Black Crowes, David Byrne) and Rich Hitman (Sara Bareilles). While it has been half a decade since Sunny Ozell last released a record, in that time she has been tremendously busy touring ‘Take It With Me’, which she has done so extensively both in the US and in the UK. In that time, she has become a valued member of the Americana Music Association UK, even headlining and co-curating a stage at Red Rooster Festival in Suffolk in association with them as well as PRS, with a line-up of female artists.

Current CMA New Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde has announced that she will release her much awaited second album ‘Never Will’ on April 3. You can pre-order the album here. McBryde took the country music genre by storm when she released her debut album ‘Girl Going Nowhere’ in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Last year, she was a Main Stage act at C2C 2019, embarked on her biggest headline date outside of the US (including a date at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire) and was part of the second female medley at the CMA Awards, where Karen Fairchild declared all of those on stage as the “future of country music.” Since her release of ‘Girl Going Nowhere’, McBryde has released one single in the form of One Night Standards, so the vast majority of ‘Never Will’ will have been unheard of to the public. Speaking about the album – which will once again be produced by Jay Joyce – McBryde explained the meaning behind the album title and that it came from her issuing a rallying cry to her bandmates – either give this your all, or don’t bother. “The significance behind the album title comes from the lyrics in the title track: I Didn’t, I Don’t and I Never Will,’” McBryde said. “Before we recorded it with Jay [Joyce] in the studio, I said to my bandmates, ‘If we’re going to cut this and put it on the record, you’re promising anyone who ever listens to our music, we don’t listen to the noise in the background. “We didn’t, we don’t and we never will. Don’t cut it unless you’re willing to promise it.’ And we cut it right then.” Ashley McBryde is currently on tour in the US and has dates pencilled in until the mid July.

David Olney has tragically passed away aged 71 after appearing to suffer a heart attack on stage at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Florida. He died on January 18. The singer/songwriter, who has had his songs recorded by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstandt and Steve Young amongst many others, was mid-performance when the incident occurred and while doctors tried to resuscitate him, they were sadly unsuccessful. Amy Rigby was performing alongside Olney on January 18 and posted her version of events in the aftermath, explaining that she was incredibly honoured to be performing alongside him and that everyone lost someone special that evening. “David Olney, a beautiful man, a legend, a songwriting poet died last night,” Rigby said. “I was sitting next to him in the round, had been so honoured and looking forward to getting to trade songs with him and Scott Miller. Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologised and shut his eyes. “He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket we laughed about because it was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing – I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment. “Scott Miller had the presence of mind to say we needed to revive him. Doctors in the audience and 30A folks were all working so hard to get him to come to. It’s hard to post about this because I can’t really believe he’s gone. I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and all the people who loved him and his music. Even those who never heard of him. We all lost someone important last night.” David Olney moved to Music City in 1973 and became an integral part of the music community in Nashville. There are no memorial details as of yet.

Lauren Jenkins has opted to release two covers from Bruce Springsteen’s fabled ‘The River’ album in Hungry Heart and Stolen Car. You can listen to the tracks here. The two covers represent the first pieces of new music the Texas born artist since her critically acclaimed album ‘No Saint’ was released in March 2019 and fans will be hoping that new material isn’t too far away. Speaking about the covers, Jenkins said that while she very rarely delves into covering other artists’ work, she will make exceptions for songs she believes to be of the highest quality, while also explaining that storytelling is what draws her to a song. “I’m a sucker for a storyteller,” Jenkins said. “Tell me a story about your joy, pain, love or loss and I’m in. That’s part of the reason why I have such a deep appreciation for Bruce Springsteen. He has a way of telling a story that feels like it’s your story, too. Honesty and vulnerability seem to be at the core and that’s something I try to mirror in my own music. “I don’t do covers often, but when I do, it better be a damn good song. Stolen Car and Hungry Heart have been part of the soundtrack to my life and I’m so excited to share my take on them. If you haven’t heard their creator singing these songs, do yourself a favour and go listen to Springsteen now.” Meanwhile, Jenkins will be returning to the UK for the first time since The Long Road Festival in early February as she will be supporting Brett Eldredge on his UK tour. Lauren Jenkins will be playing: January 31 – Cambridge Junction, Cambridge, England* February 1 – Institute, Birmingham, England* February 3 – Ritz, Manchester, England* February 4 – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Scotland* February 7 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, England* *supporting Brett Eldredge

Twinnie has revealed the release date of her much anticipated debut album ‘Hollywood Gypsy’, which will be released on BMG on April 17. You can pre-order the album here. In addition to the album release date reveal, Twinnie has also shared that she will be heading on a brief UK tour in the middle of March, her biggest headline tour to date, which includes a night at Omeara in London. Speaking about her album, the artist– real name Twinnie-Lee Moore, who also played Porsche McQueen on Hollyoaks – said that the record name is very reflective of her and her life, while also giving some insight as to what the album will entail. “The title of the album pretty much sums me up,” she said. “I am a traveller by nature and by heritage, so I am quite free. ‘Hollywood Gypsy’ is about me, my life, my artistry.” The album itself has seen the artist work with some very high profile people within Nashville, including Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift and Shania Twain) and David Barns (Carrie Underwood and Maren Morris). 2019 was a very busy year for Twinnie, who shone at both C2C 2019 and The Long Road Festival, supported Kiefer Sutherland, Lauren Alaina and Jack Savoretti and also won the Breakthrough Act award at the 2019 BCMA Awards. Moving onto 2020 and in addition to her UK tour, she will be performing at C2C 2020 as a Spotlight Stage artist, meaning she will play inside the O2 Arena on the smaller stage in-between Main Stage acts. On her upcoming UK tour, Twinnie will be playing: March 17 – Stereo, Glasgow, Scotland March 18 – Deaf Institute, Manchester, England March 19 – O2 Academy3, Birmingham, England March 20 – The Louisiana, Bristol, England March 22 – The Crescent, York, England March 24 – Omeara, London, England

Margo Price has released her first new single in over two years in the shape of Stone Me, which was written alongside Jeremy Ivey. You can listen to the track here. The song is the first thing that Price has released since 2017’s ‘All American Made’ and comes off the back of a very hectic 2019 for the artist, who supported Chris Stapleton, performed at concert tributes to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Mavis Staples and also got a Best New Artist award nomination for the Grammys. Speaking about Stone Me, Price said that it’s good to be back releasing music again after so long away nd that she’s had difficulty keeping everything under wraps while she was navigating her way through 2019. “After what feels like an eternity, I’m releasing a new song into the wild,” Price said. “It’s been hard to keep everything I’ve been working on for the last year to myself and I’m so excited to share it.” Much loved in the country and Americana world, Price’s second album ‘All American Made’ was dubbed as one of the album’s of the decade by Pitchfork, while she has also performed at C2C and Glastonbury. Margo Price is also on iconic musician and former White Stripe Jack White’s record label, Third Man Records.  

Tenille Townes will give fans a glimpse into her new album ‘The Lemonade Stand’ by releasing an EP titled ‘Road to the Lemonade Stand’ on February 7. You can pre-save or pre-order it here. Produced by Jay Joyce, the six-track EP will feature a number of songs that fans will be familiar with, including Jersey on the Wall, Somebody’s Daughter, White Horse and I Kept All the Roses, while there will also be a cover of Keith Urban’s Stupid Boy in addition to an original song, titled Holding Out For the One. Speaking about the EP, Townes said that she wanted to share it for the people who have been with her as she makes her way up the ladder and that she wanted to keep these songs very much alive, while she also dedicated it to the people that have shared their experiences with her and in turn, helped write the songs that feature. “I wanted to put out this EP to continue to tell the story of these songs,” Townes said. “This EP is for everyone that has been on this road with me so far…the ones who have shared their stories at the shows and in messages and who have given these songs a home. You have shaped me and shaped the meaning of ‘The Lemonade Stand’. I’m so excited to walk on this ‘Road to the Lemonade Stand’ with you.” In a few months time, Tenille Townes will be performing as a Main Stage act at C2C 2020, performing an ‘in the round’ of sorts performance alongside Eric Paslay and Abby Anderson.  Towards the end of 2020, Townes performed a headline date in London, which had to be upgraded due to demand, while she also shone at Country Music Week, performing at the Country Hits Radio Hub.  

Brooks & Dunn have announced that they embarking on a US tour from April 2020, which includes four Las Vegas residency stays. You can find all the dates on the tour here. It is the first time in a decade that the duo will be touring and comes a few months after the group released their first album in 12 years with ‘Reboot’, with another record pencilled in for this year. Since Brooks & Dunn released ‘Reboot’, they have re-emerged on the live scene in a brief way – at CMA Fest, they appeared during Brothers Osborne’s set and brought Ashley McBryde out for the occasion, while they also performed Hard Workin’ Man  with Brothers Osborne at the CMA Awards. As such, it was speculated that the pair may well be returning to the live scene, especially given the largely overwhelmingly positive reaction to the pair’s performances at the CMA events. Out of their tour dates, Brooks & Dunn have 22 dates in total pencilled in for Las Vegas alone, with their first residency stay at Caesers Palace kicking off in April and lasting six dates, a further six at the same venue begins in June, a further six in October and then the final four in December. While as of yet there has been nothing said about tour dates outside the US, people are hoping that they can find the time to venture over to the UK, Europe and Canada.

Lilly Hiatt will release her latest album ‘Walking Proof’ via New West Records on March 27, which follows her 2017 album ‘Trinity Lane’. The 11-song album will feature some high profile collaborations, with Amanda Shires, Luke Schneider and Lilly’s father John all appearing in some capacity – this record marking the first time that Hiatt’s father has joined her on a song. Speaking about the record, Hiatt explained that the bulk of it came from when she was heavily touring and realising that she needed a break, which she duly did and then out came all of these songs when she was recharged. “When you’re out there on the road, you’re just kind of living, and you don’t have the chance to stop and think about how everything you’re experiencing is affecting you,” Hiatt said. “When I got home, I realised there was a lot I needed to catch up on. When I got that little gap in my schedule, it gave me the chance to appreciate some mental stillness. “I can be a pretty anxious person, but I found a sense of peace by deconstructing all of these interactions and emotions I’d experienced and reconfiguring them into songs. It helped me make sense of everything and learn to relax.” The track listing for ‘Walking Proof’ by Lilly Hiatt is: 1. Rae 2. P-Town 3. Little Believer 4. Some Kind of Drug 5. Candy Lurch 6. Walking Proof 7. Drawl 8. Brightest Star 9. Never Play Guitar 10. Move 11. Scream